Utah Collecting Sites
Utah Collecting Sites
Near Zion National Park, (Kanab) Utah
Septarian Nodules
Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999
From: Kenneth Caruso joesrock@color-country.net
Utah Septarians are found near Zion National Park in Southern Utah. They are a beautiful rock that started their formation approximately 150 million years ago when the gulf of Mexico reached what is now southern Utah. Volcanic eruptions killed the sea life and they became trapped in the sediment and formed mud balls, the ocean receded and the balls were left to dry and crack. The ocean returned depositing more shell life aboce them.
As this decomposed, calcite from the shells was carried down into the cracks of the mud balls, and calcite crystals formed. A thin wall of calcite was transformed into aragonite dividing the bentonite clay (shale) exteriors from the calcite centers. Because of this dividing wall (septum in Latin) the geodes are called Septarians. Joe Caruso of Joe's rock shop has owned and mined for septarian for over 40 years.
When he passed away in 1991 the mines were then passed on to his children. Joe's rock shop is now ran by Ken and Nikki Caruso. We do allow rockhounds to collect at the site, but we do ask that you contact us first to find out which mines are being worked at the time you plan to visit, also if you would like to have your rocks that you find cut Ken will do it for a small fee, we also will take you to mine site ourselves if you do not have a truck.
We are located approximately 17 miles north of Kanab, Utah on highway 89. You can also call us at 435-648-2737. Rockhounding is a way of life and our family enjoy it very much, my 9 year old daughter Nikki will show you how to cut a rock and get it ready for polishing, and my 7 year old son Joe can tell you where to find the septarians with the best hollows.
Thank you,
Nikki Caruso
Greasewood draw near Green River, Utah
Amethyst, Calcite, Celestite, Quartz Geodes
Date: Sun, 26 Sept 1999
From: Kristel Kulinski krytles@rabbitbrush.com
A good days collecting can be had south of Green River, Utah in the vicinity of Greasewood draw. Geodes containing open cavities lined with delicate blades of pink celestite can be found.
To get there drive south from the town of Green River about 5 mi?(it has been a very long time since I have collected here so the best I can do is estimate milages). When the road will descend slightly and pass a small brushy grove (greasewood brush). Once past this brush look for the first right hand turn (going west). This road goes from pavement to dirt but is easily traveled by any vehicle when dry. Drive about a mile west and park anywhere. Look for geodes on the flanks of the broad, gentle hills. Geodes will have a bumpy, deep red, silica shell. They have the appearance of an enlarged Boston baked bean candy when whole. These geodes contain (in order of abundance): pink celestite, scalenohedral calcite, quartz crystals, amethyst crystals.
Good hunting!
Dugway Geode Beds near Dugway Mountains, Utah
Dugway Geodes
Source: Mike Ware
October 2, 1995
mware@wasatchinc.com
We've been out to this site enough times to overfill the garage.
From Salt Lake City we drive out to where the old Pony Express trail joins Highway 36 south of Tooele. From there we travel west for two hours on graded dirt, over Lookout Pass, past Simpson Springs, and finally over Dugway Pass in the Dugway mountains. Mitchell's "Gem Trails of Utah" is pretty accurate.
You can't miss the area, thanks to the BLM sign, "Rockhound Area - Dugway Geode Beds". The white of the Bonneville salt flats is visible to the north of the low hills. This is really remote.
A trick for finding lots of geodes is to find the area where commercial diggers have used heavy equipment. There are a couple of holes big enough for the foundations of pretty good size buildings. You need to drive in a mile or two in along the west side of the low hills, and then turn east into the hills. There are two or three places you can turn east, but only one leads to the big holes. There's no missing the big holes when you get there, and there always seem to be a few people there.
You can dig just about anywhere in the BLM rockhound area, but these big holes are extremely productive.
Once there, try to find the pinkish clay layer. Once you've found that, start digging and you'll have more geodes than you want rather shortly. We've been going out there for three years, and it seems that the commercial diggers return often enough that there are always fresh exposures.
We've got *lots* of these geodes - anyone want to do some swapping?
bkeller@rockhounds.com
2/8/96
